Mental Health Information
Smithdon High School recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help all our students to feel safe, and secure; encourage them to talk openly, and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. There are also a number of sources of support for mental health if you are finding it hard to cope. The following will help:
- Routine. Humans tend to like routine. Our bodies appreciate it, and our minds can be calmed by the predictability of it.
- Eat Well. Try to keep a routine to mealtimes and choose foods that will nourish the mind and body. See www.nhs.uk/change4life for tips and ideas.
- Sleep well. Good quality sleep promotes emotional wellbeing, and helps your body stay healthy too. Try to keep a good bedtime routine throughout the week. If you are struggling with sleep, see: www.youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/sleep-problems for tips and advice.
- Keep active. Meaningful activity (doing things that you enjoy and/ or get a sense of achievement out of) is important for mental health. Schedule in some physical activity every day too.
- Keep learning. Learning is good for confidence and can reduce boredom. Plan learning into every day.
- Keep in touch with friends and family. Social distancing (i.e. reducing contact with other people) is recommended by the NHS and is very important at the moment. However, there are many ways to continue communication safely (e.g. share photos and messages through texts, calls, email or social media). Keeping in touch with friends and family will be good for your mental health as well as theirs.
- Stay informed, not overwhelmed. Whilst it is important to keep updated, it may feel worrying to be hearing so much about it. Notice urges to keep checking, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed perhaps restrict your use of social media/ the news and encourage alternative conversations with friends/ family.
Please remember that although we are not in school, we are still available to talk. If you feel like you want to talk to a member of staff about concerns at home, difficulties with your work or anything else, please complete the 'I want to talk' form and someone will get in touch with you as soon as possible
Free workshops for parents and carers to support the emotional wellbeing of young people
Free online workshops are being held in April and May to help parents and carers support the mental health of the children they care for.
The workshops, provided by NSFT's psychology in schools team have helped over 1800 people since the first workshop in January.
For further information and to enrol in a workshop please click here.
Grief Support
Support and advice is available at Smithdon High School for any of our students that are grieving.
If you wish to contact a member of staff to help, then please do so by using the email below:
Sources of Support for your Mental Health
Qwell
Free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing support for adults across the UK
The Matthew Project
https://www.matthewproject.org/youthandfamilies
The Matthew Project supports vulnerable adults and young people in the East of England. They believe that every person, no matter their age or background, deserves the chance to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Kooth
This is a new service that will be sent to parents via text and email. Kooth has been commissioned by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT). Kooth offers 11 to 25 year olds across Norfolk and Waveney access to online counselling delivered by qualified counsellors (BACP). The website also gives young people the chance to benefit from peer support and a wide range of self-help materials, as well as contribute to moderated forums.
Ninja
https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/thinkninja/
ThinkNinja is a mental health app designed for 10 to 18 year olds. Using a variety of content and tools, it allows young people to learn about mental health and emotional wellbeing, and develop skills they can use to build resilience and stay well using the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. Introductory video: https://youtu.be/2pY36_kxIB0
NSFT First Response
24/7 immediate advice, support and signposting for people with mental health difficulties in Norfolk and Suffolk
Phone: 0808 196 3494
NHS advice page
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/
Information and links for those seeking urgent help for mental health.
Phone: 0800 068 4141
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
If you are (or know a young person) thinking of suicide, Papyrus offers confidential suicide prevention advice.
Calm Harm
https://calmharm.co.uk/
Reduce urges to self-harm and manage emotions in a more positive way.
Download from: Apple app store
Download from: Google Play store
Quick and discreet access to information and advice about self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
Download from: Apple app store
Download from: Google Play store
Stay Alive
Suicide prevention resources, including your own safety plan and links to local and national crisis resources.
Download from: Apple app store
Download from: Google Play store
Mind
https://www.mind.org.uk/
Phone: 0300 123 3393 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays). Text: 86463Call: 0300 123 3393 Text: 86463
Email them info@mind.org.uk
If you need urgent help for someone else – click this link https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/
If you need urgent help for yourself –click this link https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/?ctaId=/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool/slices/using-this-tool/
ON MY MIND
On My Mind
The Anna Freud Centre for Children & Families provides information, advice and resources for 10 – 25 yr olds, including tools to manage your own wellbeing and signposting to support.
Rethink Mental Illness
https://www.rethink.org/
As a leading charity provider of mental health services in England, people living with mental illness, and those who care for them. Rethink aims to give expert advice, information, and around 200 services – everything from housing to community-based services. And they drive campaigning to change the law and tackle discrimination. Together, they run over 140 local groups which provide vital peer support in the community.
MIND MATTERS
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
Every Mind Matters is evidence-based and it shows people how to build simple changes into their daily lives – such as reframing unhelpful thoughts, breathing exercises and increasing physical activity.
Young Minds
https://youngminds.org.uk/
Phone: 0800 1111
Young minds provide advice about mental health and behaviour problems in children and young people up to the age of 25. You can call the parents and carers helpline on 0808 802 5544.
The MIX
The Mix
The Mix provides a free confidential helpline and online service that aims to find young people the best help, whatever the problem.
You can:
- call 0808 808 4994 for free – lines are open from 11am to 11pm every day
- access the online community
- email The Mix
- If you’re under 25, The Mix is a support service helping young people take on challenges from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.
- 1-2-1 Chat available on the website.
Shout
Shout
Shout provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text for anyone at crisis anytime, anywhere.
You can:
- text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer
- text with someone who is trained and will provide active listening and collaborative problem-solving
Point 1
You don’t need a referral, you can get in touch straight away for advice and support.
If you need more specialist help, we will make sure you get to the right person.
0 - 18's
Phone: Point 1 on 0800 977 4077 (8am – 7pm)
Email: Point1-support@ormistonfamilies.org.uk
Over 18's
Phone: Wellbeing Service on 0300 123 1503 (9am – 5pm)
Visit: www.wellbeingnands.co.uk
For out of hours enquiries please call First Response on 0808 196 3494
MAP
If you’re aged 11-25 and live in Norfolk, you can get free and confidential support, information and advice on issues such as housing, money and mental health.
Call: 01603 766994
Email: info@map.uk.net
General Help
Childline website: https://www.childline.org.uk/
Phone: 0800 1111
ChildLine provides a helpline for any child with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects. You can contact Childline about anything. There are lots of different ways to get in touch and you can also get help from other young people through their site. Here’s a short video that explains what happens when you contact Childline.
You can:
- call 0800 1111 any time for free
- have an online chat with a counsellor
- check out the message boards
See Something, Hear Something, Say Something
If you're worried about a child, even if you're unsure, contact our the NSPCC
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk.
Call us: 0808 800 5000
Domestic Violence
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/safety/domestic-abuse/how-to-get-help/get-help-now
National Helpline 24hrs - 0808 2000 247
Norfolk Police - non-emergency - 101
Respect helpline for perpetrators - 0808 802 4040
Victim Support - 0808 1689 111
Men's Advice Line - 0808 801 0327
Leeway - 0300 561 0077
Elder Abuse - 0808 808 8141
Galop - 0800 999 5428
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the police. If you are unable to speak you can use the
Silent Solution system - from a mobile phone: call 999 and then press 55. The operator will then put you through to the police. The police will try to communicate with you by asking simple yes or no questions. If you are not able to speak, listen carefully to the questions and instructions from the call handler, so they can assess your call and arrange help if needed.
Young People & Alcohol - Children usually become aware of alcohol and drinking from an early age. This useful guide about alcohol offers good information and advice on the effects around young people consuming alcohol.
Online Safety
Information about staying safe when you’re on a phone, tablet or computer. Helping keep you safe online and offline.
Visit: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/4_7/
Internet matters - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
London Grid for Learning - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
Net-aware - for support for parents and careers from the NSPCC
Parent info - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
UK Safer Internet Centre - advice for parents and carers and to report and remove harmful online content
CEOP - for advice on making a report about online abuse
General Health
Just One Number
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/
If you’re a Parent or Carer and need general advice you can:
Phone: Just One Number on 0300 300 0123
Text: Parentline on 07520 631590
The Healthy Child
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/our-services/chathealth
Programme’s Chat Health service has also been extended to become a safety line, which can be reached on text.
Text: 07480 635060.
Other sources of support
If you live in Norfolk and Waveney and are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT+) or in doubt of your sexuality or gender identity you can get advice, peer-support and information here.
Email: blah@norfolklgbtproject.org.uk
Facebook: BLAH LGBT+ Youth
Visit: www.norfolklgbtproject.co.uk/
If you live in Norfolk and have been affected by child sexual exploitation, you can contact this dedicated team for help.
Visit: www.magdalenegroup.org/rose-project
Call: 0808 800 1037
Live chat also available.
Call: 101 or in an emergency 999
You can also report online.
If you live in Norfolk and are worried about substance misuse (drugs or alcohol) you can call this specialist drug and alcohol advice line or visit their website.
Visit: www.matthewproject.org
Call: Unity Youth Advice Line on 0800 9704866
Free, confidential and easy to use routine sexual health screen. Simply order a kit and it is delivered to your door in plain packaging. Complete the test and pop it back to them freepost.
Call: 0300 300 3030
Visit: www.icash.nhs.uk/contraception-sexual-health/postal-self-test-kits
If you’re under 18, live in Norfolk and have experienced the death of someone close to you, you can get support here.
Visit: www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk/young-people
Call: 01603 431788
Information on puberty and periods for teenagers.
Visit: www.becomingateen.co.uk
If you have or are worried you have an eating disorder BEAT offers a helpline, online support groups, one to one webchat, further information and resources.
Visit: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services
Call: Youth Line on 0808 801 0711
Honest information about drugs.
Call: 0300 1236600
Text: 82111
Visit: www.talktofrank.com or you can email/live chat from the website.